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Hugo Chavez's health mystery

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Hugo Chavez says his cancer is back

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Hugo Chavez says his cancer is back02:22

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Chavez has not disclosed what type of cancer he has, and the Venezuelan government has released few details about Chavez's illness, fueling widespread speculation about his health and political future.

Doctors say the respiratory infection "is one of the results that most often is seen in patients that have undergone complicated surgeries," Villegas said Tuesday.

"The medical team reports that President Chavez must keep resting in the coming days and receive the most rigorous prescribed medical treatment, with the purpose of maintaining the stability of his vital functions, which he currently enjoys," he said.

Last week Villegas and another top government official struck a somber tone when discussing Chavez's illness.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro said Chavez had suffered unexpected bleeding during surgery, which he said doctors had acted quickly to control.

Maduro said Chavez would face a "complex and difficult" recovery. His voice cracked as he asked Venezuelans to remain united and to pray for Chavez.

Villegas suggested Chavez might not be not be back in Venezuela in time for his inauguration, which is scheduled for next month.

Venezuelans "should be prepared to understand" if Chavez doesn't return to Venezuela before the inauguration on January 10, Villegas said.

"It would be irresponsible to hide the delicacy of the current moment and the coming days," he wrote in a post on the information ministry's website.

Their tone was markedly different from previous government messages about Chavez's health.

Speaking at a political rally Thursday, Maduro said some had criticized him for delivering the news with such a somber expression.

"Our faces are expressions of pain and worry and the most pure love that we feel for our Commander Hugo Chavez," he said. "He gave us the order to prepare the people for any circumstance. And we have followed that to the letter."